Assessment of genes associated with immune activation and regulation in pancreatic cancer patients

Blood and tumor samples were analyzed in 14 patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (UICC stages II to IV) by ELISA, immunohistology, and real-time RT-PCR techniques. The expression, distribution, and protein products of the following gene classes were analyzed:Treg (CD4, CD25, CD8, IDO, Foxp3), costimulatory molecules (CD28, CTLA-4), transcription factors (GITR, GATA-3), apoptotic markers (Bcl-2, Fas, FasL), cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-6/10), tumor suppressors (p53, APC), and tumor marker (CEA).